Saturday, November 22, 2008

A Quilt Story

Today I would like to tell you the story of the wall-hanging that I offered as a prize for the Pink Artist Project in October. The goal was to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation, and the project was wildly successful, with more than $3,000 contributed. Contributors via the blog Girl Gone Thread Wild earned the chances to win the Love Squared art doll and other prizes by contributing artists.

The little quilted piece that I made is not my usual style at all. It is mixed media, containing paper bits as well as fabric, fiber, and lots of beads, buttons, and trinkets. It has unfinished edges and is really PINK. I figured that if the recipient did not particularly want it for their own home, they might donate it to a cancer treatment center to be a bright spot on the wall in the treatment room.

So, when I found out the winner of my prize, I mailed it off to her. And did not hear anything. It was someone in Arizona, and I began to worry that she was a person who had homes in different parts of the country. Did my package arrive at its destination?

And then, two weeks later, I received an e-mail that left my jaw dropping and tears dripping down my cheeks.

Elaine wrote that when she received it: "I about flipped out,,,,,,,its soooooooooooo me and I hung it up in my bedroom right away, I adore it and thank you so much......It made my day, you have no idea what it meant to me."

She went on to explain that when it arrived, her husband was suffering his final days before dying of kidney failure and cancer of the blood. She lost him soon after.

I think that my quilt went to the perfect person at the perfect time. It was meant to be.

7 comments:

Vicki W said...

and that's why we make things - we never know when something we mae is going to touch someone else. What a wonderful story!

Anonymous said...

What a powerful story! I am glad that your work could bring her a measure of comfort. It is a beautiful piece!

Stephanie D said...

Oh, Jeanne, what a story! I think maybe your hands were guided by Someone Else, for it not to be you, but definitely her.

Thanks for the reminder that we can have more effect on lives than we realize.

Judy S. said...

Great story, Jeanne, and so nice that your quilt touched her life at the right time. It's very pretty, and I can see why she loves it!

Terri Stegmiller said...

Wow!

Vivian Love said...

I love this story. Thanks for sharing. Beautiful work of art too!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful story-- it's amazing how the universe takes care of us all. I've loved that pink quilt, and I'm happy to know that it has found its true home at last.